Answer: The U8 Pre-Academy (6 and 7 year olds) and U9 through U12 Academy Program is an alternative to the traditional recreational league. Our program offers the opportunity to focus on advanced skill development of young soccer players from any start level. This is done with professional club coaches for every team that will emphasize proper skills and training techniques used in the development and learning of players in order to enhance their knowledge of soccer.

Question: How are Academy teams formed and can my child play with their friends on a team?

Answer: The players will be selected through an evaluation process then considered for teams with players of similar ability as a priority to the enhancement of the experience. The team sizes are kept small to optimize the coach/player ratio and allow maximum playing time for each individual so that they can continue to improve. Concorde Fire will always give much consideration to accommodate existing relationships in order to make the best fit for those involved. We understand this is an important part of the decision and will make every effort to accommodate. As a normal practice in academy games, players within Concorde Fire teams may be rotated and exchanged from team to team throughout the season to increase playing opportunities.

Question: How much commitment is required?

Answer: For Academy players at all clubs, a mutual one-year commitment, which lasts until the tryout period the following year, is expected. While you are playing at Concorde, we ask that you give careful consideration to absences so that the effect on other players is minimized. Regular attendance at practice sessions is encouraged.

Concorde Fire expects players and parents who represent the club to maintain high standards of personal behavior both on and off the field. We place great importance on academics and expect players to organize their activities to accommodate both schoolwork and soccer at high levels of achievement. We look to parents to ensure that their Concorde Fire players reach games and practices on time, to attend whenever possible with a positive attitude, and to participate in Club events in some capacity.

Question: When and where are tryouts for the upcoming season?

Answer: Tryouts dates for the Pre Academy and Academy age groups from U8 through U13 (See appropriate age chart at Website) are given to us by GA Soccer and typically are the first Tuesday-Thursday after Memorial Day. We highly recommend attending all three days of tryouts. Click the Tryout Link in our navigation bar for more details. Recreational players can join Concorde Fire at any time during the year, even before tryouts. As long as you are not registered with another Academy club you are free to tryout for Concorde Fire.

Question: What happens during tryouts, what happens if my child is selected for a team?

Answer: During the tryout period, you will be provided a tracking number at the start of our session and asked for information as to age and past experience in order to place your child in the correct age group for evaluation. At tryouts your child will be evaluated by the coaching staff in various group and individual skill activities. The staff will assess current skill level, desire and potential ability. This criterion is evaluated along with consideration as to how and where that individual’s ability will best fit in order to foster continued learning, improvement and further a competitively challenged environment. Once this is determined over the course of the tryouts, teams will be selected and your child will be assigned to a team and offered a position with this team that best matches their skill level, experience and ability. You will have 14 days to consider that position with the club and make the appropriate steps for acceptance as explained by the program director during tryouts.

Question: For the Academy, will we have to travel all over the state or country to play games?

Answer: No. The majority of games are played in the immediate area with other local clubs in the metro Atlanta area. Most are within 20-30 minutes from our home facilities. Teams may participate in some local select tournaments (1-2 per season) and on occasion may require extended travel outside of the immediate area. Extended travel is a rare occurrence under the age of 12 and usually is only a top team that is looking for different competitive competition than it could get in the immediate area.

Answer: Team training occurs twice weekly with 1½ hour sessions. We have multiple training slots but usually fit around the 5-6:30pm and the 6:30-8pm time. Typically, U11 and younger teams practice in the first time slot and the older teams practice in the second time slot. Each team practices on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday as a general rule but in some instances these will be modifed to fit the team needs.

Question: What are costs for Academy compared to other clubs?

Answer: Cost for Academy players at Concorde fall within the average of most other clubs in the area (Approximately $1200-1400 per year) with payment plans and arrangements available to accommodate budgeted households. Included in your yearly fee is our Team Camp the first week of August. This is a 4-day camp that is offered to all players to kick the season off with a bang! A separate cost is made for tournaments throughout the year. Tournament costs range from $30-$70 per player per tournament independent of possible travel and lodging cost. Our costs, unlike many clubs in the area are all inclusive, except for Tournaments. Other clubs will charge monthly coaches fees in addition to their yearly fee.